MALE, Maldives (AP) — Voting began in the Maldives in a crucial parliamentary election on Saturday many hope would help President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih to overcome a coalition split that has hampered his efforts to restore political freedoms and tackle corruption.

Thousands lined up to cast their ballots across the Indian Ocean archipelago nation known for its luxury resorts.

Amaravati, Apr 5 (PTI): The Election Commission Friday removed Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha from the post and appointed senior-most IAS officer L V Subrahmanyam of the 1983 batch in the place of the former.

The EC stated this in a communication to the Andhra Pradesh government.

Kanpur: Inspecting the new building of the ARO at the Collectorate here on Friday, the District Magistrate V V Pant learnt of the employees absent during training for the election duty. He found three employees absent on the occasion. He directed their one-day salary cut. mi vy He made it clear that employees must be present at 10 am and put their signature in the attendance register. 

Making his stand sterner he stated if the employees remained absent for three days their suspension order will be issued. The ACMs were also present on the occasion. 

Washington, Apr 6 (PTI) The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it has reached Congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B visa cap for the fiscal year 2020, after it started receiving the applications for the most sought-after work visa among foreign, including Indian, professionals.

Ahmedabad, Apr 6 (PTI) A 50-year-old farmer facing financial crisis allegedly hanged himself from the ceiling of his house at Lushala village in Junagadh district of Gujarat, police said Saturday.

The deceased Dilip Tatamiya shared 0.4 hectares of land with his two brothers, a Vanthali police station official said.

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) Three men were arrested on Friday for allegedly raping a Haryana-based dancer in northeast Delhi's Khajuri Khas, police said.

The incident took place five days ago when the 20-year-old woman had come to Khajuri Khas in north-east Delhi for a show, which turned out to be a trap laid for her by the trio, they said.

The woman had arrived at Kashmere Gate ISBT on a bus from Haryana from where the accused had picked her up in a car on the pretext of taking her to the event venue, police said.

5 Apr 2019; DW: A New Zealand judge on Friday ordered the accused Christchurch shooter to complete a psychiatric assessment to determine if he is fit to face trial for the murder of 50 Muslim worshippers.

The March 15 shooting at two mosques caused major reforms to New Zealand's gun control laws and sparked criticism of social media platforms, which allowed the rampage to be livestreamed.

Charged with murder

WASHINGTON, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a message delivered to his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, on Thursday that new substantial progress has been made on the text of the China-U.S. economic and trade agreement in the past more than one month.

MOSCOW, April 4. /TASS/. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s statement comparing Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler and IS (outlawed in Russia) shows his lack of education, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated during Thursday’s briefing.

"This statement is more stupid than inappropriate," she stated. "Many Western politicians are notorious for their absurd and stupid statements that have no relation to facts. They are simply ignorant."

MOSCOW, April 4. /TASS/. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has put the country’s military on alert because of a plot by the opposition to assassinate him that was exposed, and called on militia units to join the pro-government armed forces known as colectivos, the Venezuelan leader said in a phone interview with Venezolana de Television TV.

ANKARA, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Initial delivery of Russian made S-400 air defense system parts will start in June, as planned before, Turkish officials said on Thursday.

"The first parts of the S-400 air defense system will arrive in June and the shipment will be completed in July," a Turkish official from the Ministry of Defense said on condition of anonymity.

5 Apr 2019; AFP: The United States has revoked the visa for the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, her office said Friday, over a possible investigation of American soldiers' actions in Afghanistan.

Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda would continue to pursue her duties for the Hague-based court "without fear or favour" despite the ban, her office said in a statement.